Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government is funding a Personality Disorder National Improvement Programme which has been developed in partnership with the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland and is being delivered by Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS).

The aim of the Personality Disorder Improvement Programme is to deliver meaningful improvements in services and supports for people impacted by personality disorder. This includes supporting NHS boards to implement practical changes which will improve care pathways for people with a diagnosis of personality disorder.

Phase 1, which concluded in March 2023, involved developing a national needs assessment, the development and delivery of a Personality Disorder Learning System and developing key performance indications for optimising and standardising data collection across Scotland.

Phase 2 is currently underway. HIS is currently working with NHS Dumfries & Galloway and West Lothian HSCP to review pathways, gather lived experience input and feedback, and capture learning around implementation of new pathways. A working group of internal and external stakeholders has also been established to develop a data and measurement plan.

This will form part of the wider mental health reform programme which aims to reform mental health services by enhancing care quality, access, and equity.

In 2022 the Scottish Government conducted a full analysis of the different options for relocating the SQA’s accreditation function. As of 11 March 2025 and in response to this question the analysis has now been published at Education reform: location of the Scottish Qualification Authority’s accreditation function - gov.scot.

With regards to the STPR2 Delivery Plan, I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-31324 on 27 November 2024. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

My officials at Transport Scotland are developing how we align transport infrastructure investment planning with future expected budgets. Such investment plans are significantly dependant on the outcomes of the UK Government’s Spending Review, which is now expected in June.

Recommendation 36 of the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2) notes that consultation with the freight industry, trade unions, representative bodies, local authorities and other stakeholders will take place to discover gaps in provision and support Transport Scotland in making future decisions on the need to address market failure. This recommendation also includes that a review will take place on freight parking and rest areas to better understand barriers.

STPR2 is a long term framework for investment and it is not possible to progress all its recommendations at once. Work on this recommendation is not planned to commence in the forthcoming year. However, please be assured I will continue to engage with my officials on how STPR2 recommendations can be taken forward.

The Scottish Government had previously intended to progress legislative consent in the Scottish Parliament for measures to restrict the importation and non-commercial movement of dogs, cats and ferrets into the United Kingdom, before the previous Bill fell due to the dissolution of the UK Parliament.

It is our intention to progress legislative consent in the Scottish Parliament for this Bill, subject to the final provisions of the Bill and agreement of the Scottish Government Cabinet Sub-Committee on Legislation.

By working to address this issue in the Bill, important safeguards for animal welfare can be extended to Scotland to ensure we continue to strive for the best possible welfare outcomes for all animals.

From the date of the charter to 30 September 2024, the Scottish Government has provided funding to CalMac of £16.2m. Under the Clyde and Hebrides Contract Extension, the costs were included as part of the overall funding and therefore were not paid separately.

Discussions regarding a further extension between CalMac and Pentland Ferries are currently ongoing therefore final costings have yet to be received.

Since 2016, the Farming Opportunities for New Entrants (FONE) Group has been coordinating new entrant opportunities on publicly owned land in Scotland. FONE Group membership includes, but is not limited to, Forestry and Land Scotland, the Crown Estate Scotland, the Scottish Ministers’ Estate and Scottish Water.

Through the FONE group, over 80 new entrant opportunities have been provided across more than 8,000 hectares of publicly owned land.

Additionally, in December 2024, I wrote out to all Local Authority Leaders and Chief Executives asking that they engage with the Programme for Government commitment to maximise the opportunities on their land for agricultural new entrants.

I have called on all Scottish public bodies, with land, to a Landowner’s Conference in March to showcase and emphasise the importance of leasing public land to new entrant farmers and crofters.

No. The Scottish Government is not responsible for monitoring or enforcing compliance with health and safety legislation, which is a reserved matter.

Replacement of the Marine Evacuation System is scheduled to begin in May 2025.

Since 2016, the Farming Opportunities for New Entrants (FONE) Group has helped facilitate entry to over 80 new entrants across more than 8,000 hectares of publicly owned land in Scotland.

Instigated by the FONE Group and funded by the Scottish Government, the Scottish Land Matching Service (SLMS) provides a platform for opportunities for the next generation of farmers and crofters, by engaging with those seeking or offering joint venture arrangements in relation to land and facilities. To date the SLMS has facilitated over 300 individuals and formally matched over 50 joint-ventures, some of which includes publicly owned land.

A significant aspect of our pulmonary rehabilitation improvement work was to support the specialist respiratory workforce. This work is now being taken forward by a small group within the Respiratory Speciality Delivery Group. We also continue to work with many types of clinical advisors on delivering improvements to respiratory care and much of this is related to workforce.

The Scottish Government remains committed to delivering the National Workforce Strategy (Health and social care: national workforce strategy - gov.scot) and achieving the overall vision for “A sustainable, skilled workforce with attractive career choices and fair work where all are respected and valued for the work they do”. Whilst no formal update has yet been published, significant progress has been made in a number of areas and we remain committed to providing a fuller update to the strategy at an appropriate time. Whilst the Strategy does not set out operational workforce planning requirements, it states how we are directing policy to support the achievement of our workforce.